NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The long-running rivalry will be renewed Saturday at Captains Park, as Christopher Newport hosts the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University in the Capital Athletic Conference softball opener for both schools. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 1:30 p.m.

CNU is presently ranked third in the nation, while Salisbury is the ninth-ranked squad in the country. The Captains are 16-1, and have lost to just the top-ranked team in the nation, Texas-Tyler.

Salisbury enters play Saturday with a 16-3 mark and riding a 14-game winning streak following a 2-3 start.

Since joining the CAC, Christopher Newport has won the last two league championships, but the Captains have lost both years at Salisbury in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

The schools have played 68 games since the series began in 1989, and the Captains hold a 34-32-2 edge. CNU won three of five games played last season, including both meetings at Salisbury in the regular season last April 4th. The Captains also beat the Gulls in the CAC Tournament at Captains Park on April 18th, before losing both games in the NCAA Super Regional at Salisbury on May 15th and 16th.

Christopher Newport is coming off a doubleheader sweep on Monday at Roanoke. CNU won the games by sores of 5-2 and 7-6. The Sea Gulls defeated Washington College in Chestertown, MD., on Wednesday by scores of 3-0 and 7-0.

The Captains have been led by senior Scoop Simon at the plate. Simon tops the squad in batting average (.447) and home runs (3). She is currently tied with junior Rachael Shiflett for the team lead in runs scored with 18, and is also tied with sophomore Brittney Walters in runs batted in with 18.

In the pitching circle, senior Hanah Marshall has a 6-0 record and an ERA of 3.75 so far. Junior Tara Heatwole is 7-1 with an ERA of 1.94.

The games Saturday afternoon will begin a busy stretch of six home games in five days for the Captains. CNU will host Eastern Mennonite on Monday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. and then will host Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday in another non-conference twin bill starting at 5:00 p.m.